Reasonable price for an early KZ1000

What would be a reasonable price to offer for an early (1976 reported by owner so I think it's a 1977) KZ1000?

It has 8000 miles, 20 years without running, non original exhaust, paint seems good, side cases need to me painted and emblems, no mirrors and it needs either a seat cover or a new seat. I would say it's in OK condition and I expect at the very least new battery, clean carbs and replace boots, change oil and filter new tires and a seat cover, replace forks oil, rebuild brake MC and clean/purge brake lines and calipers, rebuild petcock and clean the gas tank..

Owner is asking $2000, NADA estimates at half of that plus this one is not running.

Besides the things you mentioned, you will need bearings all around wheel ,swingarm steering stem, chain ,sprockets, clutch plates could be frozen, where the pistons & rings sat in the same spot for 20 yrs. cylinders will be rusted & or pitted, seals in engine & head will be dry rotted, you would need a complete engine & head rebuild, you don't know what electrical problems there are ETC. ETC,.....I wouldn't give him no more than 500.00 for a non running 76-77 bike ...at least you could always part it out & get you money back for 500.00
That's my opinion Pete

Rule of thumb. $1 per cc if complete not running. Goes down from there.
Steve

pete greek1 wrote: Besides the things you mentioned, you will need bearings all around wheel ,swingarm steering stem, chain ,sprockets, clutch plates could be frozen, where the pistons & rings sat in the same spot for 20 yrs. cylinders will be rusted & or pitted, seals in engine & head will be dry rotted, you would need a complete engine & head rebuild, you don't know what electrical problems there are ETC. ETC,.....I wouldn't give him no more than 500.00 for a non running 76-77 bike ...at least you could always part it out & get you money back for 500.00
That's my opinion Pete

You've got the poor thing condemned already! :woohoo:

Plummen, not trying to condemn, ...just saying, for 2000.00 that the guy wants, you're better off looking at a running bike for that much, & figure out if it's worth it to fix what problems you can see or hear

Yeah its not worth anywhere near $2000.00 for a non running 76-80 900/1000,a z1 would be a different story. :woohoo:
ive just never come acrossed a bike that needed everything rebuilt that wasn't pretty obvious from looking at it. :laugh:

I paid $300 for my 77 KZ1000, did not run had not run since 1986. I put a battery and gas in it and got it to run. It burned oil like crazy but I rode it like that for 2 years. I replaced bearings and rebuilt carbs and brakes. Little by little replaced other things. My rings had not damaged the cylinder after sitting that long but the valve seals were rock hard, cause of the smoke.
so long story short, I would not go higher that $500. I have heard of guys paying $1000 but if you are patient you will find a better deal. THE PO probably saw a KZ900 selling for that price and thinks he can get the same.

Thank you all for the feedback

I think kaw is right. He also doesn't want to invest money in it. A little Marvel Mystery oil in the cylinders might bring it back to life. Bossie sat for 15 years and yes the valve seals leaked and I was fouling plugs until I just went through the head. It costs money to make money unless whoever waits long enough for a rube to come by. That's dishonest. Offer him $500 take it or leave it, serves him right.